At the global level, climate action today is no longer limited to clean energy production; it equally emphasises how we consume energy. The cover decision of COP-27, titled the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan, highlights the transition to sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production as a core requirement for addressing climate change.👉 This…
India’s renewable energy transition is not only a technological challenge, but equally a financial and institutional challenge. Therefore, the government has created specialised institutions and innovative financial instruments to mobilise long-term capital for green energy. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) What is IREDA? Core Role IREDA is the financial backbone of India’s renewable energy…
Background Let us begin with a simple idea:Renewable energy is clean and sustainable, but it is not always reliable in the way conventional power is. Low Plant Load Factor (PLF) Intermittency Problem Mismatch example: 👉 Neither solar nor wind can independently meet peak demand. Transmission and Cost Issues Financial Weakness of DISCOMs Smart Grid: A…
Why Hydrogen? The Core Idea Hydrogen is often called a clean energy fuel because when it is used, the only by-product released is water vapour — no carbon dioxide, no particulate matter, no sulphur. The Hydrogen Economy refers to a long-term vision where hydrogen becomes a major low-carbon energy carrier, helping us decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors…
What are Biofuels? In simple terms, biofuels are hydrocarbon fuels derived from organic matter—material that is living or was once living—and crucially, produced over a short period of time.This short renewal cycle clearly distinguishes biofuels from fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form. Types of Biofuels (Based on Physical State) Because biofuels emit…
Wind energy harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air using wind turbines to generate electricity. It is a clean, renewable, and indigenous energy source, but its deployment is shaped strongly by geography, technology, and policy choices. India’s Installed Capacity State-wise Concentration 👉 Key UPSC insight:Wind power in India is regionally concentrated, unlike solar, which has…
Understanding the Core Idea Solar energy is energy obtained from sunlight. This sunlight can be converted directly into electrical energy using a technology called Photovoltaic (PV) cells, commonly known as solar cells. How does a solar cell actually work? Solar cells are primarily made of silicon, a semiconductor material. This entire phenomenon is governed by…
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), World Energy Outlook 2025 International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook Report 2025 Energy security in a volatile world Why energy has become a national security issue Present global contradictions 📌 UPSC Angle:Energy security is no longer just “fuel availability” → it is geopolitics + technology + supply chains. Climate…
Statistics: Total Installed Power Capacity in India (As on 30 November 2025 | Source: Central Electricity Authority, GoI) Fuel-wise Installed Capacity Fuel TIC (MW) % of Total Coal 2,19,610 43.1% ↓ Gas 20,122 3.9% ↓ Lignite 6,620 1.3% ↓ Diesel 589 0.1% 🔴 Total Fossil Fuel 2,46,942 48.4% ↓ Renewable & Non-Fossil Sources Source TIC…
Cleaner fuels are those fuels which: They are especially relevant for: Alcohol-based Cleaner Fuels: Methanol & Ethanol Methanol and Ethanol: Basic Understanding Both methanol and ethanol are alcohols and are increasingly discussed as alternative transport fuels. 🔸 How are they produced? 🔸 A crucial future pathway Methanol vs Ethanol (Conceptual Comparison) Methanol Ethanol 👉 Common…
